Abstract

*The contents of this paper formed part of the Report rendered to the Brilish Medical Association at the end of the term of office as Insole Research Scholar. 1951-2. (See also Willcox. R. R.: S. Afr. Med. l .. 27, 1036-14 November 1953.-Ed.) 1. Figures are presented which indicate the extent of the problem of non-specific urethritis in Great Britain. The prevalence of the condition follows a similar pattern to that of gonorrhoea. 2. Incubation periods in excess of one week were more frequently noted in patients with non-specific urethritis than in patients with gonorrhoea. 3. In a comparison of age-incidence, marital status and occupation of patients with non-specific urethritis and gonorrhoea, slightly older patients, more married men and more 'white collar' workers were noted in the nonspecific urethritis group. 4. These trends may all be reflections of the same thing, viz. a slightly higher preponderance of non-specific urethritis in married men. 5. The wife or regular consort was nominated more often as the source of infection of non-specific urethritis than of gonorrhoea. 6. There was no evidence that the practice of buccal or anal coitus was commonly responsible for the non-specific urethritis encountered in Great Britain.